December 01, 2008

A Rosette Tutorial

Wow..... I've been MIA for a while haven't I? I totally didn't notice the time ........ being a new Mom for the fourth time makesdaysruntogether. It really does.

I thought I'd throw together a quick tutorial on how I make my rosettes as I've been getting questions about them here and there. They are super quick, easy and cheap to make! Perfect for a teachers gift or even a gift swap with friends!

Here goes.... please read this part first, boring I know but sooo necessary!

Please don't take this tutorial too seriously! It's easy, so please for the love of all that is holy, don't make it harder than it is! (Best advice I've ever, ever, ever given!)

You don't have to have a sewing machine for these..... it can be made by hand while watching Magnum P.I..... don't be hatin'! During the gathering part... just make running stitches with your needle and thread and POOF..... you got gathers!

If I leave something out..... please let me know. I'm doing this with no time to spare as I have to take my girls to the doctor this morning.... shots for my shmoozy wittle luvvy baby! WAhhhhh!

You also don't have to have a button cover...... any old button will do and shoot dang....... it looks good without a button too!

Please..... do not look too closely at my fingers. I wash my hands eleventy million times a day and don't bother slathering them with lotion ..... again, don't be hatin'!

Here we go youngins, the directions will be given under the pictures so be on the lookie out!

Measure your fabric of choice..... I cut mine 2 1/2" by the width of the fabric .... which is usually about 44" wide. This should make your rosette fabric 2 1/2" by 44". Fold it in half as you see in the photo above..... iron it to keep the crease.

Making it gather: Set your machine to the longest stitch, mine is 4.0....... your-ins own might be different, just make it loooonnngg and stitch down the center of the fabric...... it doesn't have to be right on the dot..... I've traveled way out of the canal while reaching for my Wal Mart Brand Strawberry Crystal Light and it turned out splendidly! Don't forget to leave plenty of thread to use to pull the gathers.

If'n you've never ever gathered anything in your entire life...... here's how it's done: Goto the end of the fabric..... you'll find your thread...... the thread you left to pull with remember? Take only one of the threads and pull....... do you see how it's beginning to pucker and gather a bit? Continue to do this while spreading out the jammed up area.... you'll know what I speaks of when you sees it! I promise!

This is what it should look like when you have it all gathered up. Kinda cute isn't it? (Please ignore the fact that I'm a slacker in the camera skillz department)

I use a piece of felted wool...... to be honest...... it's all I had to grab at the moment. I'm kinda lazy that way..... shocking I know! Anyhoo, take a piece of felt or felted wool or whatever you've got handy that is somewhat thicker than regular fabric........ and cut a circle. I'm quite impressed with my circle since it's totally free hand...... I rock the freehand! (It's approximately the size of the opening of a drinking glass)

Take your gathered up piece of fabric and tie a knot on the end you're going to start with. NO biggy, just a simple little knot to keep it from un-gathering. See above!

Now, lay the gathered piece of fabric on top of the wool, it should be folded in half again ....... remember to use the end that has the knot...... and start sewing it to the wool circle thingy. It's not supposed to be perfect so no worries if you didn't get it perfecto.... trust me, in the end you won't be able to tell where it started! Just sew it close to the edge and when you get to where you started....... well, just bypass it and make a new row. Kinda like when you peel an apple and try to keep the peel in one piece....... does that make a bit of sense?

See how it looks..... I just keep on sewing it round and round till I get to the center and/or run out of room for my machine foot. Go ahead and backstitch a bit to keep it in line and take it off of the machine.

See how I have a tiny bit left? I'm gonna take a needle and thread and tack it down the best I can. No neatness here folks....... it's downright messy and downright cute!

See my needle and thread! I'm just tacking the tail end down. Now, here is the part I didn't take a picture of...... because I am a dork, totally normal for me, maybe not for you BUT..... there's really no need as it's simple. You can now sew a button to the center of the rosette if'n you wish. I like to use button covers and make mine the same as the fabric I'm using....... but sometimes, I like to throw caution to the wind and really go wild by adding a regular old fashioned button ...... sometimes, just sometimes I get a bee in my bonnet and make it a different color! Wild, I know!

This one doesn't have a center but the next one does........ you do what you're little voice tells you to do...... like Magnum. His little voice talks to him allll the time!

Happy tutorial to you! I hope you enjoyed it and can get some use from it! I know it's totally not like the fancy PDF versions out there but ......... hey, it's free, fun and super cute! Make a ton and show me what you've got!

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I'll be rosetting the crud out of stuff this week for a shop update so be tuned in!

Wow~your tutorial actually makes it sound easy~I might give it a try. Maybe. You might have to be there to help. Your poor baby with her shots!!! I hope that is not why she cried last night!!! I will be glad when she starts to like me. How old was Amelia when she decided she liked me??????? I don't remember Cole and Kavin doing this~your girls must get it from their father!!!! Is she too young for me to start bribing her with chocolate?????

I know that you posted this tutorial a couple of years ago but thank you! It was really helpful and easy to follow. I am going to try it out for sure for one of my next projects. Check out my website in a week or two to check it out! @ www.nagashi602.blogspot.com

I found this looking for a reminder! Your step by step was PERFECT! I have such a hard time sewing in a circle, but my mess ups made a perfectly Vintage-y rosette for my daughters skirt, Thanks so much!